Material handling apparatus



1967 v. E. REZABEK 3,334,4Z&

MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed April 19, 1965 2 SheetsSheet 2 Wm, M

United States Patent 3,334,428 MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Vernon E. Rezabek, Palatine, Ill., assignor to International Harvester Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 19, 1965, Ser. No. 449,153 4 Claims. (Cl. 37-8) This invention relates to material handling apparatus and in particular to conveyor means for use in such apparat-us.

In one conventional form of material handling apparatus, a wheel bowl is provided having a bottom wall with a leading cutting edge and side walls defining a material receiving space having a front opening. The wheeled bowl is adapted to be moved forwardly along the ground by a suitable tractor or the like, whereby the cutting edge scrapes earth material from the ground and delivers it into the material receiving space. It has been found, however, that in such a scraper apparatus the earth material tends to collect in the forward portion of the material receiving space placing an additional load on the tractor in requiring that the newly scraped material force the previously receiving material backwardly to the rear of the space. To alleviate this condition, elevating conveyor mechanisms have been provided on the bowl for conveying the scraped material upwardly and rearwardly to the rear of the space thereby permitting the scraping to be effected with minimum power requirements in the tractor.

The present invention is directed to an improved method of mounting the conveyor mechanism on the bowl. A problem has arisen in the mounting of such conveyor mechanisms. In unloading the scraper, an ejector plate is moved forwardly through the material receiving space to urge the received material forwardly out through the front opening of the space. At this time it is necessary to reposition the conveyingmeans so that it will be out of the path of movement of the ejector plate. A substantial number of different methods of mounting such a conveying means on the bowl have heretofore been provided. However, none has been completely satisfactory in meeting the desideratums of simple, economic, and rigid bowl construction. The present invention comprehends an improved conveyor means mounting structure eliminating the above discussed disadvantages of the known struc tures in a novel and simple manner.

Thus, a principal feature of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved material handling apparatus.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a new and improved means for mounting a conveying means in such a material handling apparatus.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of such a material handling apparatus having a wheeled bowl having a bottom wall provided with a leading cutting edge and side walls defining a material receiving space having a front opening, means movable forwardly through the space for ejecting material received therein outwardly through the front opening, and means for pulling the bowl forwardly and having a gooseneck, means for conveying material scraped by said leading edge rearwardly into the space including a frame and a conveyor carried by the frame, a support, means carrying the support on the bowl for pivotal movement about a first axis transverse to the bowl, and means securing the support to the frame for swingably guiding the conveying means about the axis between a lower, rearwardly upwardly inclined conveying position across the. front opening and an upper retracted position above the path of movement of the ejecting means, a lever, means carrying the lever on the gooseneck for pivotal movement about a second axis transverse to the gooseneck, means connecting the lever to the frame, and means for moving the lever about the second axis to swing the conveying means about the first axis from the conveying position. to the retracted position.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of such a material handling apparatus wherein the means connecting the lever to the frame includes a yieldable portion.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of such a material handling apparatus wherein the means connecting the lever to the frame includes pivot means carried by the frame permitting swinging movement of the conveying means independently of the lever.

A yet further feature of the invention is the provision of such a material handling apparatus wherein the pivot means includes an extensible force means carried by the frame.

Yet another feature of the invention is the provision of such a material handling apparatus wherein the pivot means for permitting swing movement of the conveying means includes an extensible force means carried by the frame and connected to the lever intermediate the means carrying the lever on the gooseneck and the means connecting the lever to the frame.

A yet further feature of the invention is the provision of such a material handling apparatus including means for connecting the connecting means to the lever for pivotal movement about a third axis parallel to the second axis.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of such a material handling apparatus wherein the support means comprises a pair of arms pivotally carried one each on the side walls of the bowl.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of such a material handling apparatus having a wheeled bowl having a bottom wall provided with a leading cutting edge and side walls defining a material receiving space having a front opening, and means movable forwardly through the space for ejecting material received therein outwardly through the front opening, means for conveying material scraped by the leading edge rearwardly into the space including a frame and a conveyor carried by the frame, a support, means carrying the support on the bowl for pivotal movement about a first axis transverse to the bowl, and means securing the support to the frame for swingably guiding the conveying means about the axis between a lower, rearwardly upwardly inclined conveying position across the front opening and an upper retracted position above the path of movement of the ejecting means, extensible means, means connecting one end of the extensible means to the bowl for pivotal movement about a second axis parallel to the first axis, means connecting the other end of the extensible means to the frame, the extensible means being operable to swing the conveying means about the first axis from the conveying position to the retracted position.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of such a material handling apparatus wherein the means connecting the other end of the extensible means to the frame comprises a connector pivotally secured to the support.

Yet another feature of the invention is the provision of such a material handling apparatus wherein the means connecting the other end of the extensible means to the frame includes a yieldable portion.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a material handling apparatus provided with a material conveying means and means for mounting the conveying means in the material handling apparatus, embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary side elevation generally similar to that of FIGURE 1, but with the conveying means in the retracted position;

FIGURE 3 is a diametric section of a yieldable connecting means of the mounting means;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the apparatus; and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of a material handling apparatus generally similar to that of FIG- URE 1, but having a modified means embodying the invention for mounting the conveying means of the material handling apparatus.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed in FIGURES 1 through 4, a material handling apparatus generally designated is shown to comprise a bowl generally designated 11 having a bottom wall 12 and side walls 13 and 14. The bowl 11 is movably carried by means of a pair of wheels 15 journalled on the rear of the side walls 13 and 14. An ejector plate 16 is provided for movement from a rearmost position (shown in FIGURES 1 and 4) forwardly through the space 17 defined by the bottom wall 12 and side walls 13 and 14 to a forward position (shown in FIGURE 2) wherein the ejector plate extends through the front opening 18 of the space 17. In so moving through the space, the ejector plate moves material collected in the space 17 outwardly through the front opening 18. The means for moving the ejector plate may be of any conventional well known construction, being illustrated herein schematically as means 19 carried at the rear of the bowl. Upon ejection of the material from the space 17, the ejector plate is returned to the rear position shown in FIGURES 1 and 4, in which the eject-or plate defines the rear wall of the material receiving space 17.

The material, such as earth and the like, is brought into the receiving space 17 by movement of the bowl 11 forwardly over the ground with a leading cutting edge means 20 thereon extending downwardly from the bowl at the front opening 18 arranged to dig into the surface of the ground and scrape the upper layer thereof into the space 17. The forward movement of the bowl 11 is effected by a suitable tractor having a gooseneck 21. The bowl 11 is connected to the gooseneck by a pair of arms 22 secured to the sidewalls 13 and 14 by suitable piv-- otal connectors 23.

The means for conveying the material rearwardly and upwardly into the rear portion of the space 17 herein comprises a conveyor 24 having a frame 25 and an endless chain 26 provided with flights 27 for engaging the material as it is scraped by the cutting edge 20 and elevating it toward the rear of the space 17. The conveyor is driven by a suitable motor 24a, as shown in FIGURE 4, so as to move in a counterclockwise direction as seen in FIGURE 1.

The conveyor 24 is swingably mounted on the bowl 11 by means of a pair of supports, or arms, 28. The arms are pivotally mounted at their rear ends to the side walls 13 and 14 of the bowl by pivots 29 and are fixedly secured to the frame 25 of the conveyor 24 by a rigid connector 30, whereby the conveyor is swingable, about an axis 31 extending horizontally transversely across the the bowl 11, between a lower conveying position wherein the conveyor is rearwardly upwardly inclined as shown in FIGURE 1, to an upper generally horizontal retracted position as shown in FIGURE 2. As shown in FIGURE 2, in the retracted position the conveyor is disposed slightly above the ejector plate 16 at the forward end of its travel.

The conveyor 24 is swung between the conveying position and the retracted position in apparatus 10 by means of a lever 32 having one end connected to the gooseneck 21 by a pivot 33 for pivotal movement of the lever about a horizontal axis transverse to the gooseneck. A link generally designated 34 is provided with a rod portion 35 having one end connected to the other end of the lever 32 by a pivot 36. The lower end of the rod 35, as shown in FIGURE 3, is provided with a collar 37 received in a cylindrical housing 38. The upper end of the housing is closed by a cap 39 having an opening 40 through which the rod 35 is axially movable. The collar 37 is biased upwardly by a coil spring 41 within the housing 38. The upper end of the spring is centered by a dowel 42 projecting downwardly from the collar 37. The lower end 43 is connected to a connector plate 44 fixed to the frame 25 of the conveyor 24 by a pivot 45. Thus, the structure 3742 comprises a yieldable pivot means including an extensible force means for connecting the lever 32 to the frame 25. Thus, as shown in FIGURE 1, the conveyor 24 may have a limited swinging movement notwithstanding the fixed retention of the lever 32, thereby to permit the conveyor to pass rocks and the like into the receiving space 17 without jamming or damage of the conveyor.

The lever 32 is swung about the axis 46 of the pivot 33 by a conventional force member, such as an hydraulic piston device, 47 having a cylinder 48 connected at one end to the gooseneck 21 by a conventional pivot 49, and having its piston rod 50 connected to a middle portion 51 of the lever 32 by a conventional pivot 52. Thus, when the hydraulic device 47 is operated to urge the piston rod 49 outwardly from the cylinder 48, the lever 32 is pivoted in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in FIG- URES 1 and 2, to raise the lower end of the conveyor 24 to the retracted position of FIGURE 2. When the hydraulic device 47 is reversely operated to retract the rod 50, the lower end of the conveyor is lowered to the conveying position of FIGURE 1.

As shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the downward movement of the conveyor 24 may be limited by the engagement of the arms 28 with stops 53 carried on the side walls 13 and 14 of the bowl 11 so that the conveyor will rise and fall with the bowl 11 as the bowl 11 moves upwardly and downwardly in the normal movement thereof over the terrain.

Turning now to the embodiment shown in FIGURE 5 of the drawing, a material handling apparatus generally designated is shown to comprise an apparatus generally similar to material handling apparatus 10, but provided with a modified means for mounting the conveyor on the bowl. In describing the apparatus 110, numerals similar to the numerals designating the elements of apparatus 10, but one hundred higher will be applied. Thus, apparatus 110 includes a bowl 111 carried on suitable wheels 115 and provided with a conveyor generally designated 124 which is movable between a full line conveying position and a broken line retracted position substantially identical to the conveying and retracted positions of the apparatus 10. However, in apparatus 110, each support arm 128 is provided with a lateral extension 160. An hydraulic operator 147 has a cylinder portion 148 pivotally carried on the side wall 114 of the bowl 111 by a pivot 151. The rod 149 of the device 147 is connected at its outer end to a yieldable connector 161 which in turn is pivotally connected to the extension of the support arm 128 by a pivot 162.

Thus, the hydraulic device 147 selectively positions the conveyor 124 in the conveying and retracted positions by the movement of the rod 149 inwardly and outwardly from the cylinder 148. In all other respects the apparatus 110 is similar to and functions in a similar manner to the apparatus 10.

In each of apparatus 10 and 110, the conveying means is swung about the horizontal axis defined by the rear pivots of the support arms between the lower conveying position and the upper retracted position by means of a conventional extensible piston type operator. In each of the illustrated embodiments, the extensible means is connected to the frame, in apparatus 10 by means of the connector plate 44, and in apparatus 110 by means of the extension 160 of the support 128. In each embodiment, the upward of the invention as.

swinging of the conveying means is sufiicient to permit the ejector plate to move under the conveying means in discharging the earth material from the receiving space.

Thus, each of the embodiments of the invention disclosed herein is extremely simple and economical of construction while providing the highly desirable selective positioning of the conveying means for selective loading and unloading operations of the scraper.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a material handling apparatus having a wheeled bowl having a bottom wall provided with a leading cutting edge and side walls defining a material receiving space having a front opening,

means movable forwardly through the space for ejecting material received therein outwardly through said front opening, and

means for pulling said bowl forwardly and having a gooseneck;

means for conveying material scraped by said leading edge rearwardly into said space including a frame and a conveyor carried by said frame;

a support;

means carrying said support on said bowl for pivotal movement about a first axis transverse to said bowl, and means securing said support to said frame for swingably guiding said conveying means about said axis between a lower, rearwardly upwardly inclined conveying position across said front opening and an upper retracted position above the path of movement of said ejecting means;

a lever;

means carrying said lever on said gooseneck for pivotal movement about a second axis transverse to said gooseneck;

means connecting said lever to said frame, said connecting means including yieldable pivot means having a spring biased extensible force means permitting swing movement of said conveying means independently of said lever; and

means for moving said lever about said second axis to swing said conveying means about said first axis from said conveying position to said retracted position.

2. The material handling apparatus of claim 1, including means on said bowl for limiting the downward movement of said support to a disposition wherein said conveying means is in said conveying position, said limiting means including stop means fixed to at least one of said side walls of said bowl for engagement by said support when said conveying means is in said conveying position for carrying said conveying means with said bowl during up and down movement of the bowl.

3. In a material handling apparatus having a wheeled bowl having a bottom wall provided with a leading cutting edge and side walls defining a material receiving space having a front opening, and

means movable forwardly through said space for ejecting material received therein outwardly through said front opening;

means for conveying material scraped by said leading edge rearwardly into said space including a frame and a conveyor carried by said frame;

a support;

means carrying said support on said bowl for pivotal movement about a first axis transverse to said bowl, and means securing said support to said frame for swingably guiding said conveying means about said axis between a lower, rearwardly upwardly inclined conveying position across said front opening and an upper retracted position above the path of movement of said ejecting means;

extensible means;

means connecting one end of said extensible means to said bowl for pivotal movement about a second axis parallel to said first axis; and

means connecting the other end of said extensible means to said frame, said connecting means including yieldable pivot means having a spring biased extensible force means permitting swing movement of said conveying means independently of said extensible means, said extensible means being operable to swing said conveying means about said first axis from said conveying position to said retracted position.

4. In a material handling apparatus having a wheeled bowl having a bottom wall provided with a leading cutting edge and side walls defining a material receiving space having a front opening, and

means movable forwardly through said space for ejecting material received therein outwardly through said front opening; means for conveying material scraped by said leading edge rearwardly into said space including a frame and a conveyor carried by said frame;

a support;

means carrying said support on said bowl for pivotal movement about a first axis transverse to said bowl, and means securing said support to said frame for swingably guiding said conveying means about said axis between a lower, rearwardly upwardly inclined conveying position across said front opening and an upper retracted position above the path of movement of said ejecting means;

first extensible means; and

connecting means operatively connecting said first eX- tensible means to said frame for swinging said conveying means selectively to said conveying and retracted positions, said connecting means including yieldable pivot means having a spring biased extensible force means permitting swing movement of said conveying means independently of said first extensible means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,254,002 1/1918 Hoffer et al. 3,143,814 8/1964 Brinkmeyer et al. 37-8 3,210,868 10/1965 Liess 37-8 3,270,443 9/ 1966 Duke et al 37-8 ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primary Examiner.

R. CARTER, A. E. KOPECKI, Assistant Examiners. 

1. IN A MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS HAVING A WHEELED BOWL HAVING A BOTTOM WALL PROVIDED WITH A LEADING CUTTING EDGE AND SIDE WALLS DEFINING A MATERIAL RECEIVING SPACE HAVING A FRONT OPENING, MEANS MOVABLE FORWARDLY THROUGH THE SPACE FOR EJECTING MATERIAL RECEIVED THEREIN OUTWARDLY THROUGH SAID FRONT OPENING, AND MEANS FOR PULLING SAID BOWL FORWARDLY AND HAVING A GOOSENECK; MEANS FOR CONVEYING MATERIAL SCRAPED BY SAID LEADING EDGE REARWARDLY INTO SAID SPACE INCLUDING A FRAME AND A CONVEYOR CARRIED BY SAID FRAME; A SUPPORT; MEANS CARRYING SAID SUPPORT ON SAID BOWL FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT A FIRST AXIS TRANSVERSE TO SAID BOWL, AND MEANS SECURING SAID SUPPORT TO SAID FRAME FOR SWINGABLY GUIDING SAID CONVEYING MEANS ABOUT SAID AXIS BETWEEN A LOWER, REARWARDLY UPWARDLY INCLINED CONVEYING POSITION ACROSS SAID FRONT OPENING AND AN UPPER RETRACTED POSITION ABOVE THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAID EJECTING MEANS; A LEVER; 